In 1968, as a young Democrat getting back into politics less than five years after the MURDER of our beloved President, John F Kennedy, I was priviliged to shake the hand of Bobby Kennedy, the day before he won the California primary -- and was MURDERED. That, and the MURDER of Martin Luther King destroyed a movement, and the hopes and dreams of millions of young Americans who valued peace over war, and love and sharing over greed and corruption.
Now, forty years later, and after the most destructive administration in history, along comes the most inspirational and uplifting political candidate since Bobby, and he is subjected to smears, attacks, innuendo, slurs, you name it, from flag pins (funny, I never see any news anchor wearing one, nor have I seen one on Hillary or McCain) -- to his pastor (a decorated Marine), to people he knows, etc., while at the same time, Clinton and the media report that he is being given a free ride. Here is an example of the kind of "fair and balanced" reporting Obama and his supporters face. Warning! This is uncomfortable to watch.
I just watched Hillary demeaning Obama saying, "if you can't stand the heat get out of the kitchen" and saying she is tougher. She JUST DOESN'T GET IT! What Obama is saying is that the people are fed up with negative campaigning, and Hillary plays right into it by saying this is the way politics is done. The fact is she is saying just what the people of America DON'T WANT TO HEAR. Now, as a result of her embellishment of her Bosnia experience, which she described as a "misspeak", but my parents taught me was called LYING, especially when told at least three times on different days in exquisite detail, she has become a Toy Soldier.
An ABC/Washington Post poll shows that only 39% of the American people TRUST her. That means 61% do not. That's right, 61% of the American people do not find Hillary Clinton to be trustworthy. That means she is NOT ELECTABLE. Here is why:
And, finally, she has attacked the "activist base" of the Democratic Party during a private fundraiser for her campaign, according to the Huffington Post.
"We have been less successful in caucuses because it brings out the activist base of the Democratic Party," said Clinton, heard on an audio clip at Huffington. "MoveOn didn't even want us to go into Afghanistan. I mean, that's what we're dealing with. And you know they turn out in great numbers. They are very driven by their view of our positions, and it's primarily national security and foreign policy that drives them. I don't agree with them. They know I don't agree with them. So they flood into these caucuses and dominate them and really intimidate people who actually show up to support me."
Not only do 61% of the American people not trust her, she has just isolated an organization that was established and named to help her husband during his impeachment fiasco. MoveOn is made up of 3.2 million reliable voters and volunteers that she is apparently willing to discard who will be an important part of any winning Democratic coalition in the coming election. This makes her even more UNELECTABLE.
Howard! Super Delegates! Hello! It's time to put an end to this debacle, to put Hillary out to pasture, and to treat Sen. Obama with the respect and dignity deserving of our party's nominee and next President. Hillary Clinton has damaged the Democratic Party and our chances for victory in November. Her coziness with John McCentury is more than troubling. She has not been loyal to the Democratic Party -- only to herself.
I haven't waited 40 years to have a bunch of faceless big shots deny not only my dream, but the dreams of many baby boomers who have waited patiently for a man like Obama to come along. Millions of Americans are waiting with anticipation and hope for Change We Can Believe In, and Obama is the man who can deliver that change. Here is a man that Americans can relate to who can provide motivation, inspiration and leadership.
Now is the time to for the Super Delegates to step up and be counted, demonstrate leadership, and declare Barack Obama the nominee. Come down from your ivory towers, folks, and join us in a movement to take back America for the benefit of ALL of its people. DO IT NOW! This is the most important election of our lifetime.
HILLARY CAN'T WIN - DO THE MATH
Obama Spoke to 35,000 Adoring Supporters in Philadelphia on April 18, 2008
Good job. Howard Dean and the Super Delegates need to step in now and let Hillary know that it's over.
ReplyDeleteFWIW I voted for Hillary in Florida but her mean spirited, gutter politics politics have made me an Obama supporter :)
Fantastic post. I hope the superdelegates vote and soon. President Clinton gave our country to the Republicans with his reprehensible behavior in the Oval office, and though I forgave him and became a member of Moveon.Org, I am afraid the Clintons will destroy our chances to take back the government in 2008.
ReplyDeleteBrilliant. Thank you for this compilation. People understand intuitively the power of Obama's message: even the republicans I know who voted for Hillary because she is unelectable agains McCain. Why go so far? Let's stick to a strait arrow, let's make deception in politics a thing of the past.
ReplyDeleteCynthia A.
Obama is amazing. I hope, for the sake of this country and world community, that he is the next President of the United States of America.
ReplyDelete-NMS
So true. Hillary and Bill cannot live without politics. The week before Bill left office, she became senator! I believe that if she loses, they'll get a divorce! That's why she's throwing everything AND the kitchen sink at Barack.
ReplyDeleteThis is an excellent, comprehensive summary of the harms Clinton can inflict, as well as the inspiration and leadership Obama embodies. When I met Barack in 2004 I felt that he was the future of not only the Democratic party, but the United States of America. I hope Dean has the courage to reach the same conclusion about Obama that I did!
ReplyDeleteThis article was deeply moving and true. I hope the DNC realize that people are excited now. Barack is energizing groups that typically do not get involved in politics. I have a 31 year old brother that voted this year for the first time in his life. I attended the townhall meeting in Raleigh, NC this week. Many of the volunteers were high school students. I was so moved by this. Young people are energized. I for one actually watch MSNBC for politics, which is new. I typically watched CNN, FOX, and MSNBC for Stocks, and Business. Obama is the reason for this movement. Do not let this opportunity of excitement get lost in a bitter fight.
ReplyDeleteDean let's get the show on the road and starting lowering McCain's poll numbers.
ReplyDeleteThanks, well said!
ReplyDeleteI used to think it was OK for Hillary to keep on, it would involve all of the states in the primary, etc.
But no more. The stakes are too high to allow this kind of destructive campaigning to continue.
It's high time for all the Democrats to rally behind our frontrunner, the person who can win the White House and build bridges to get true progress realized. That frontrunner is Barack Obama.
ReplyDeleteAs a direct result of the negative coverage and attacks by the media and the Clinton campaign I switched my support from John McCain to Senator Obama (who I voted for in the primary here in Arizona) Thanks particularly to Sean Hannity's obsession with misrepresenting Rev. Wright, I was prompted to research the Senator on his website: And by listening to his speeches and reading the entire comments he made in San Francisco, instead of the excerpt the media is playing, I do believe he can 'Change' the direction of politics as usual in Washinton, and the direction of this country to bring hope and a voice to working class Americans.
ReplyDeleteLois in Arizona
I have paid attention to politics since I was a little girl, helping my father in NYC as he went about supporting Democrats. In 2004, I voted, praying that I would hear the words President John F. Kerry. But, alas, disappointment and bitterness set when GWB was again elected for a second term and I thought to myself, what was this country thinking? And I even questioned the DNC - why didn't they stand up for Kerry? Did they really want to lose? I also remember at the same time, admiring Mr. Obama that night he introduced the Democratic nominee John Kerry in 2004. I said to myself, wow this man is special and went to work the next day, just excited.
ReplyDeleteWhen I heard that Mr. O was running, a spark was lit back and now flames ablazing! I just came back from Philadelphia and to see junior high schoolers travelling from Boston to volunteer is just amazing. Just jaw dropping amazing. As a woman, I would be SO PROUD to see a woman running this country. However, my vote is NOT for Hillary, not this time. I can wait a few more years for a female president, just not Hillary. The DNC needs to stand up to this bullying by both Hillary AND the Republicans. STOP AND STAND UP FOR THIS COUNTRY! We are tired of being bitter, we are tired of the shenanigans in Washington, we are tired of the politicians who will not stand up for the average American. WE ARE TIRED and READY FOR A CHANGE!
This is a great article because this is how I feel. Mr. O is bringing us hope, there is NOTHING wrong with that. The world is looking at us with HOPE again! For that, I am NOT afraid to say, that YES! I WHOLEHEARTEDLY SUPPORT BARACK OBAMA! And I make a plea from the bottom of my heart, that the DNC announce Mr. O as our nominee. Do this and you will see, the words that we will hear on Jan 20, 2009 will be - "I now present to you - President Barack Obama!"
Well written. I agree that it is time to end the politics of the past. I hope that people realize how devisive Clinton is and will see that Obama is the person to unite the country and win in November.
ReplyDeleteIn a chat group I frequent, a poster asked "Is Hillary Staying In the Race Because Obama Is Black?" To which I replied...
ReplyDeleteWell, let me ask you this. Would she be bringing up Louis Farrakhan if her opponent was white? Would she have trashed MLK in New Hampshire? Would Bill have equated John Edwards, Joe Biden, Chris Dodd, Dennis Kucinich or any other candidate with Jesse Jackson if they would have won South Carolina? The list goes on and on. Place any white candidate in Obama's place and you'll have your answer. Even the contempt and disdain shown toward Obama is because they have such a low perspective on blacks. In 40 years of watching presidential politics I have NEVER seen a politician treat their opponent as disrespectfully as the Clintons have treated Obama. Every comment by Hillary, her surrogates AND her supporters is as condescending and hostile as any statement I've ever seen in a presidential race. Had Obama been white - or, if he had RUN as half-white and tried to distance himself from his black ancestry he himself wouldn't be treated half as badly. Of course, the MSM will be quick to vouch for Hillary's love for black people yada yada yada. Don't believe it. The very reason she's still in the race is because she refuses to believe white people will elect a black man as president. Hillary is convinced this primary is the first woman vs the first black man. She refuses to consider any other angle. And don't be fooled by her beginnings on the mean streets of Park Ridge, Il. That's an affluent suburb just outside Chicago near O'Hare Airport. Not anything close to a blue collar town now. We used to compete against them in track when I was in high school. Not a very friendly bunch.